Fencepost base



July 22, 1924;.

F. HQBART FENcEPosT BASE ,Filed July'z, 1925 l AToN.

Patented July 22, 11924.

UNITED STATES FRANK HOB-ABT, OF ILLINOIS..

. Y vFIELNCEIE'OSTy BASE.

To aZZwhom 1f/may concern: Y

Be it known that I, F RANK HOBART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marseilles, in the county of La Salle andV frThis invention relates to a concrete base` for fence posts, and hasforfits object to provide, in aA manner as hereinafter set forth, a durable concrete base for wooden fence posts, adaptedto be appliedto the saine both in vthe constructionof fences and iii-repair workand which affords a firm support, as wellas an`anchor for the post, and which is provided with means embedded therein and projecting therefrom for engagement into the post for fixedly securing the latter to the base whereby the post will be maintained in an upright position.

Further objects 'of the invention are to provide in a manner as hereinafter referred to, a concrete base for the purpose set forth, which is simple in its construction andy arrangement, strong, compact, thoroughly eflicient in its use, readily set up, obtaining when used a great saving in fence posts cost, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically de-` scribedv andillustrated in the accompanying Adrawings wherein .is shown anembodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resortedto which fall within the scope of theclaims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein likereference characters denote y throughout the several views lFigure l is an elevation, partly in section, Yof Va base 1n accordance with this invention,

" dicular with'respect to the extension 7 and' showing .supported thereby and connected therewith, a vertically disposed fence post.

Figi), is a perspective view of a concrete base for fenceY posts in accordance with this invention, looking toward one side thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view'similar to Fig. 2, look ing toward the otherside thereof.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the combined reinforcing and coupling member.

A base forfence posts in accordance vwith this invention, is constructed of concrete, and

corresponding partsV p f which projects from thelower terminusof Application filed July 23,1923. Serial N0. 653,219.

comprisesa vertically disposed rectangular body .portion 1 of substantialthickness Iand which has its front face 2, as well as its rear face 3, countersunk to provide a recessy 4 having the top and bottom'walls, as ywell as the side walls. thereof, bevelled, as in? dica-ted-at 5. The recess 4f. in the front face 2,. as well as in the rear face 8, of the body portion l, isy disposed centrally thereof, or

off center, in a manner as illustrated, Vand which is the preferred arrangement. I

vIn the manner of setting up the recess 4, 'l with respect to the front and rear Ifaces of Ithe body portion 1, `the top wall of there.-

cess is positioned a greater distance from the A top of the body portion than-the distance between the bottom wall ofthe recessand g thebottom of the body portion.

Formed integral with the top ter and one end of said top 6, is ya vertically disposed squared extension 7, ofjsubstantial vheighth, and iwith the extension preferably of a length` equal to the length of the 6, ofthe l 4body portion1, at a point between the cenis mounted the base 8 of awooden fence I post 9. Theinner side` of the extension 7, constitutes an abutment against which is positioned the postv9;

Embedded'within the extension 7 as wel asthe upperpart of the body portion 1,

and further projecting ythrough-the top of the ybody portion l1, that is to say, that part Aof the top 6 which is freeof the extension 7, is av c'ombined'reinforcing and coupling member ,formed from a length of wire of the i desired diameter andwhich is hook-shapedv` in contour and which comprises a curved shank 10, and' an' angle-shaped extension 11 the shanklO. .The shank is so setfup that" i its lower vportion will 'be disposed perpenbody portion 1 and with its`upper portion, curving outwardly toward the. outer side ofthe extension 7. The upper terminus' of the combined reinforcing and coupling member, is bent upon itself to provide an extends a substantial` distance abovegor ,through that part of the top 6, of the body portion 1, which is free of the extension .7,

and the said vertical leg of the extension 11, is adapted; to; engage into the bottom;v of the post 9', as indicated at 13, in Fig. 1, whereby the post is connected to the body portion.

The post 9 is also connected to the extension 7, and for such purpose, a hold fast' device, in the form of an elongated screw 14, is employed, and which extends through the eye 12, as well as projects from the inner side ofthe extension 7, and engages in the post 9, as indicatedv at 15 in Fig.` 1, and. by the' employment of the screw 14, and vertical leg of the extension 1l, he post is anchored to vthe base.

The recesses Li, which also may be termed cavities, are employed for the reception of the earth, which is tiamped against the body portion 1, and when the cavities or recesses 4f are filled with the earth., below the level of the ground, the body portion 1, is secured from vertical movement and will be retained in such position until the earth has been removedl from the recesses or cavities 4a rEhe combined reinforcing and coupling member, is not only employed' for reinforcingithe extension 7, but also for the upper part of the body portion 1, and this is obvious, by reference to the position, as shown of the combined reinforcing and couplingl member, with respect to the extension 7 and body portion 1, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

`When the screw 14 isl mounted in securing position, the head 16, thereof, partly extends into the outer side of the extension 7.

The shank 10 of the combined reinforcing and coupling member, has its upper end positioned' in close proximity to the top of the extension 7, whereby the screw or securing device 14, will be positioned in a like manner, so that the post 9 will be secured against the extension 7, in proximity to the top thereof, and as before stated, the screw 14, in connection with the vertical leg of the extension 11, will securely anchor the wooden fence post 9, to the base.

In the adaptation of a concrete base, in accordance with this invention, for use in connectiony with fence posts, it will be assumed that the base has been mounted inthe ground, with the top 6 of the body portion 1, slightly raised above the ground level, or in alinement with the ground level. Now take any old wooden` fence posty that has had the butt end rotted` off, bore a hole up in the said end, and set it upon the seat formed by the top 6 of the body' portion 1, which isr free of the extension 7,' and position the fence post se that` the opening in the bottom thereof, will have the upper end of the verticaly leg of the extension 11 extend thereinto. After the fence post has been mounted inthe position as shown, the screw 14, is adjusted to engage the post, in a man-ner as indicated at 15, in Fig. 1. By this arrangement,a firm and lasting post isset up. It is possible, to use any length, of material in connection with the base, whether the material is short, and by providing for such employment, a great saving can be had in the building of fences; and as for a vineyard' post, the base would be very valuable, as it could be set in the ground and a new postl placed on as needed without molesting the vines. It is well known, that when tearing down old fences, that the posts are found rotted off at the ground, and that above the rotted end of the post., there remains about four or five feet of the best seasoned post `hat one could obtain,but that, such length cannot be used, owing to the fact that they are too short, but by utilizing a concrete base, in a manner as set forth, the said short length of seasoned posts can be readily sen cured in position and employed for use in connection with the set-ting up of fences.

JAlthough the preferred embodiment of the invention is as described and illustrated, yet it is tof be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had, which will fall within thelight of the invention as claimed.

What l claim is 1. A` base for fence posts comprising a body portion formed' throughout of concrete and having an integral concrete vertically disposed extension projecting from one side of the top thereof, a metallic combined reinforcing and coupling member embedded in said extension and body portion and further having one terminal projecting through and extending a substantial distance above the other side of the top of the body portion and providing securing means for engaging in the bottom of a post seated on the` top of the body portion, and means extendingv through said member and through said extension and engaging` in the post for securing it against the extension.

2. A base for fence posts comprising a body portion formed throughout of concrete.

and having an integral concrete vertically disposed extension projecting from one side of the top thereof, a metallic combined reinforcing and coupling member embedded in said extension. and body portion and further having one terminal projecting through and extending a substantial dis.- tance yabove the other side of the top of the body portion and providing securing means for engaging in the bottom of a post seated on the top of the body portion, and means extending through n said member and through said extension and engaging in the post for securing it against the extension, said member having its other end provided with an eye and through which extends. said means.

A base for fence posts comprising a MMS lli() body portion formed throughout of concrete and having an integral concrete vertically ldisposed extension projecting from one side of the top thereof, a metallic combined reinforcing and coupling member embedded in said extension and body portion and further having one terminal projecting through and extending a substantial vdistance above the other side of the top of the body portion and providing securing means for engaging in the bottom of a post seated on the top of the body portion, and means extending through said member and through said extension and engaging in the post for securing it against the extension, said member having its other end provided with an eye-and through which extends said means, said eye and said means positioned in proximity to the top of said extension.

4. A concrete base for fence posts comprising a body portion having its top provided With a vertical extension, a combined reinforcing and coupling member embedded in the extension and body portion and further projecting through the top of said body portion to provide a fence post securing means, and a fence post securing element extending transversely of and projecting from the inner side of said extension.

5. A concrete base for fence posts comprising a body portion having its top provided With a vertical extension, a combined reinforcing and coupling member embedded in the extension and body portion and further projecting through the top of said body portion to provide a fence post securing means, and a fence post securing element extending transversely of and projecting from the inner side of said extension, said element arranged near the upper end of said extension.

6. A concrete base for fence posts comprising a body portion having its top provided with a vertical extension, a combined reinforcing and coupling member embedded in the extension and body portion and further projecting through the top of said body portion to provide a fence post securing means, and a fence post securing element extending transversely of and proof said extension, said body portion andV extension formed of concrete, a combined hook-shaped metallic reinforcing and cou* pling member embedded in and extended lengthwise of said extension andI -having its hook portion embedded in and projecting from the upper part of the body portion, that part of said member projecting from the top of said body portion extending a substantial distance above said seat and spaced from said base of the extension and engagable in the bottom of the fence post supported on the seat, and a hold fast device extending through and projecting from the inner side of said extension and engageable in the side of the fence post.

' 8. A base for fence posts comprising a body portion provided at its top With an extension and a fence post supporting seat, said seat arranged at one side of the base of said extension, said body portion and extension formed of concrete, a combined hookshaped metallic reinforcing and coupling member embedded in and extending length Wise of said extension and having its hook portion embedded in and projecting from the upper part of the body portion, that part of said member projecting from the top of said body portion extending a substantial distance above said seat and spaced from said base of the extension and engageable in the bottom of the fence post supported on the seat, and a hold fast device extending through and projecting from the inner side of said extension and engageable in the side of the fence post, said device extending through the upper terminal of said member'and positioned in proximity to the top of said extension.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature hereto.

FRANK HOBART. 

